How a student celebration in Syria was framed as a jihadist attack
Recently, videos purportedly showing an “attack” on a Christian university in Syria by “terrorists” affiliated with the country’s new Islamist rulers have surfaced on social media. These videos were accompanied by claims that “jihadist slogans” were chanted and “Taliban flags” displayed. However, an investigation by the FRANCE 24 Observers reveals that these allegations are inaccurate.
A student at the university said the videos in fact showed an event organised by students, including Christian and Druze students, to celebrate the overthrow of deposed president Bashar al-Assad. Videos of the event posted by other students and staff show Christian and Druze flags among the participants, with chants calling for national unity.
Since the overthrow of Assad’s regime by the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), concerns about the future of Syria’s religious minorities – including Christians – have grown, despite repeated assurances by HTS and its leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa (formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani). In this charged atmosphere, pro-Christian accounts and Telegram channels affiliated with Iran, a key Assad ally, spread misinformation in an apparent effort to exploit these fears.
On January 15, media outlets and social media accounts affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shared two videos claiming that HTS members or supporters had stormed “Al-Hawash University, a private Christian university in Syria”. According to these posts, the supposed HTS supporters chanted “jihadist slogans” and waved “Taliban flags” to provoke and intimidate Syria’s Christian community. These claims were subsequently relayed by various pro-Christian and anti-HTS social media accounts.